As a part of Baseball's new CBA that was signed in December, DL stays were reduced from 15 days to 10. The theory behind this made a lot of sense. In the past, there were countless situations where a player was injured enough to miss a few days, but teams were hesitant to put him on the DL in hopes that he wouldn't be out for the entire two weeks. Being down a man for a few days was often preferable to sitting a guy out for two weeks when he might've been good to go in one.
Of course, with position players, a trip to the DL is often longer than the minimum length, so whether it's 10 or 15 days is somewhat irrelevant. But this season we've seen teams take advantage of the new DL rules in very creative ways (as noted in an ESPN.com article I read earlier today).
The article focused on the Dodgers and how they've been able to manipulate it to their benefit. They've basically figured out a way to keep an extra reliever in their bullpen while still keeping the regular allotment of five starters. How are they doing this? By utilizing their off days and the 10-day DL to essentially skip starts for the pitchers not named Kershaw.
Skipping starts for the fifth starter isn't a new thing. A lot of teams often don't even use a fifth starter until mid-April because they don't need to with the off days around Opening Day. And if you think about it, most teams have a similar stretch at some point in the season. If you have two off days in a week (or Thursday and Monday off around a weekend series), you can skip your No. 5 starter and keep the other four on their regular rest. Likewise, if a starting pitcher gets suspended, his team can usually work it so that he doesn't really miss a start (which kinda defeats the whole point, but that's a topic for another day).
LA did it a little differently. They're doing it to give guys extra rest while still giving all their starters work. The Dodgers recently skipped a Kenta Maeda start by putting him on the DL. Who replaced him? Hyun-Jin Ryu, who had just spent exactly 10 days on the DL himself. And when Maeda comes off the DL, you can bet the Dodgers will put another starting pitcher on in his place. And since there's no rule about how many times a player can be put on the DL over the course of the season, they can theoretically do this until the rosters expand in September.
Some of the "injuries" used to put pitchers on the DL may appear somewhat dubious, but you can't dispute the brilliance of the strategy. Not only are they keeping their pitchers fresh, they've basically found a way to have a 26-man roster. I applaud them for figuring it out.
Now, the Dodgers are a bit of a unique case in that they have six starting pitchers, so this is a way to give them all "regular" work, even if it means they won't be making the standard 32-33 starts apiece. But having everybody healthy going into the playoffs is much more important for a team like the Dodgers, and limiting their pitchers to 27-28 starts each is one way to do that. And if the rules allow for them to finagle DL stints to make that happen, why not do it?
This obviously wasn't the intent of the DL change. But I wouldn't be surprised to see other teams start doing it, too. Because it makes total sense. And I don't see the Union having any sort of an issue with it, either. It gives more guys Major League service time, starting their free agency clocks, and puts a Major League salary in two players' pockets instead of just one (you collect your regular salary while on the DL).
We've obviously seen more DL trips in the first six weeks of this season than we did last season. That's part of the point. Teams are more likely to put a guy on the DL if they don't have to wait two weeks and can get him back in a week and a half instead.
But we also might be seeing a bit of a DL revolution. You can use any minor "injury" to take a guy out of commission for 10 days, which lets you use somebody else in his place. And that seems preferable to the Triple A shuttle. For everyone.
Wednesday, May 17, 2017
Monday, May 15, 2017
Next Numbers Retired
No Yankee will ever wear a single-digit number again. Derek Jeter had the last one. His number retirement will probably be the Yankees' last for a while (at least until they figure out they should retire 21), and, after the Red Sox retire No. 34 for David Ortiz later this year, we're not gonna have a significant one for a while. Sure, the Mariners will retire 51 for Ichiro/Randy Johnson once Ichiro retires, but Ichiro's still playing for the Marlins right now.
We knew for the last, oh, I'd say 10 years of his career that Jeter's number was going to be retired. Just like we know a handful of active players will be the last to wear their number for their current teams. Things could change, but I think it's safe to say that there are teams already planning number retirement ceremonies for the faces of their franchise.
Dustin Pedroia: There are two no-brainers on this list, and he's one of them. Pedroia's been as much a part of what the Red Sox have done over the past 15 years as anyone. It probably took them about 11 seconds to decide to retire Ortiz's number. I'd imagine it'll take them just as long to make a similar decision about Dustin Pedroia.
Yadier Molina: Yadi Molina is the other guy who the only question about a number retirement is "When?" In fact, I probably should've put him first, because there's absolutely no doubt about Yadi. He's probably going to get a statue outside Busch Stadium, too. He's meant that much to the Cardinals organization.
Buster Posey/Madison Bumgarner: Posey and Bumgarner go together because it's difficult to say one deserves it over the other. They've both been the faces of the Giants during their run of even-year championships. It's hard to envision San Francisco retiring one number and not the other. Especially since they've both become iconic figures in the Bay Area.
Miguel Cabrera: I feel pretty good about this one, too (although, the Tigers haven't retired Alan Trammell's number yet). He was the best player in baseball for a while and has been the face of that team for quite some time. Miggy's headed to Cooperstown, and he'll likely be wearing a Tigers hat when he gets there.
Clayton Kershaw: Like Miggy, Kershaw is yet to lead his team to the Promised Land (at least not yet). But he's already entered into that pantheon on great Dodgers starting pitchers. I'm not sure if he needs it, but a World Series title will definitely put him over the top.
Felix Hernandez: Seattle's got plenty of other numbers to retire first. They've still got Jay Buhner, Ichiro/Randy Johnson after Edgar Martinez's 11 is retired this year. it would be cool if the two 51s got their (shared) number retired together. After that, 34 shouldn't be too far behind. It's not his fault Seattle has been God awful his entire career.
David Wright: The Mets also have some numbers that they need to worry about retiring before David Wright's No. 5 (Gary Carter, Keith Hernandez). But Wright shouldn't be that far behind. Let's take the fact that his career is probably over out of the equation for a second. He's meant more to the Mets than anybody over the last 15 years. At the same level as Tom Seaver or Mike Piazza? No. But enough to warrant number retirement.
Joe Mauer: Another no-brainer in my opinion. It's almost too easy. Mauer's from Minnesota, and he's been on the Twins for so long I don't even remember him not being there. He's beloved in the Twin Cities. Can you envision anyone else wearing No. 7 for the Twins after he retires? I can't either.
Evan Longoria: Tampa Bay has two retired numbers...for Wade Boggs and Don Zimmer. But Evan Longoria is, without question, the best player in Rays history. And he's a career Ray, too. His arrival corresponded with the team becoming relevant, and he's shown incredible loyalty by staying there as the Rays continue to lose free agents. His number won't be the first they retire, but it'll be the most meaningful.
Other names who appear headed to number retirement include Eric Hosmer, Mike Trout (and, by extension, Vladimir Guerrero) and Giancarlo Stanton, while Kris Bryant/Anthony Rizzo and Bryce Harper could certainly join those ranks if they stay with their current teams long enough. Likewise, there are some active players who appear destined to have a day with their former clubs (Ichiro, Albert Pujols). I think these 10 are a safe bet to be honored, though.
We knew for the last, oh, I'd say 10 years of his career that Jeter's number was going to be retired. Just like we know a handful of active players will be the last to wear their number for their current teams. Things could change, but I think it's safe to say that there are teams already planning number retirement ceremonies for the faces of their franchise.
Dustin Pedroia: There are two no-brainers on this list, and he's one of them. Pedroia's been as much a part of what the Red Sox have done over the past 15 years as anyone. It probably took them about 11 seconds to decide to retire Ortiz's number. I'd imagine it'll take them just as long to make a similar decision about Dustin Pedroia.
Yadier Molina: Yadi Molina is the other guy who the only question about a number retirement is "When?" In fact, I probably should've put him first, because there's absolutely no doubt about Yadi. He's probably going to get a statue outside Busch Stadium, too. He's meant that much to the Cardinals organization.
Buster Posey/Madison Bumgarner: Posey and Bumgarner go together because it's difficult to say one deserves it over the other. They've both been the faces of the Giants during their run of even-year championships. It's hard to envision San Francisco retiring one number and not the other. Especially since they've both become iconic figures in the Bay Area.
Miguel Cabrera: I feel pretty good about this one, too (although, the Tigers haven't retired Alan Trammell's number yet). He was the best player in baseball for a while and has been the face of that team for quite some time. Miggy's headed to Cooperstown, and he'll likely be wearing a Tigers hat when he gets there.
Clayton Kershaw: Like Miggy, Kershaw is yet to lead his team to the Promised Land (at least not yet). But he's already entered into that pantheon on great Dodgers starting pitchers. I'm not sure if he needs it, but a World Series title will definitely put him over the top.
Felix Hernandez: Seattle's got plenty of other numbers to retire first. They've still got Jay Buhner, Ichiro/Randy Johnson after Edgar Martinez's 11 is retired this year. it would be cool if the two 51s got their (shared) number retired together. After that, 34 shouldn't be too far behind. It's not his fault Seattle has been God awful his entire career.
David Wright: The Mets also have some numbers that they need to worry about retiring before David Wright's No. 5 (Gary Carter, Keith Hernandez). But Wright shouldn't be that far behind. Let's take the fact that his career is probably over out of the equation for a second. He's meant more to the Mets than anybody over the last 15 years. At the same level as Tom Seaver or Mike Piazza? No. But enough to warrant number retirement.
Joe Mauer: Another no-brainer in my opinion. It's almost too easy. Mauer's from Minnesota, and he's been on the Twins for so long I don't even remember him not being there. He's beloved in the Twin Cities. Can you envision anyone else wearing No. 7 for the Twins after he retires? I can't either.
Evan Longoria: Tampa Bay has two retired numbers...for Wade Boggs and Don Zimmer. But Evan Longoria is, without question, the best player in Rays history. And he's a career Ray, too. His arrival corresponded with the team becoming relevant, and he's shown incredible loyalty by staying there as the Rays continue to lose free agents. His number won't be the first they retire, but it'll be the most meaningful.
Other names who appear headed to number retirement include Eric Hosmer, Mike Trout (and, by extension, Vladimir Guerrero) and Giancarlo Stanton, while Kris Bryant/Anthony Rizzo and Bryce Harper could certainly join those ranks if they stay with their current teams long enough. Likewise, there are some active players who appear destined to have a day with their former clubs (Ichiro, Albert Pujols). I think these 10 are a safe bet to be honored, though.
Saturday, May 13, 2017
Favorite Derek Jeter Memories
"Now batting for the Yankees. Number 2. Derek Jeter. Shortstop. Number 2."
Bob Sheppard's iconic introduction is one of the many lasting memories that Derek Jeter provided during his career in Pinstripes. They have to play it during the number retirement ceremony, right? With number 2 set to take its rightful place on the wall in Monument Park, we've been reminiscing about The Captain all week. Jeter holds a special place in the heart of all Yankees fans. For many, he was the team during the late 90s dynasty. And he was baseball for most as his career neared its end.
YES had a poll question the other day asking people to describe Derek Jeter in one word. For me "Class" was the first word that came to mind. He has such respect for Joe Torre that, to this day, he calls him "Mr. Torre." He understood and appreciated Yankees history as he was making it. He took the role of captain and embraced it. Even those people who hate the Yankees revere Derek Jeter. Try to find a person who has a bad thing to say about him. It'll take you a while.
There's a simple reason for that. Derek Jeter has always been, and always will be, a gentleman. It's tough to dislike a guy who does everything the right way. Derek Jeter knows and respects Yankees history, and he knows his place in it. His relationship with Yogi Berra and Phil Rizzuto was special, as is his relationship with "Mr. Torre." And, naturally, he's become a mentor to younger players like Aaron Judge.
Who's responsible for all of that? His parents. They've been there every step of the way, fixtures in the Yankee Stadium stands, keeping him grounded. It's always been about family for him. That's why he chose Mother's Day for the ceremony...as a tribute to his mom. Famously a bachelor throughout his career, he'll soon be a father himself. And, boy, will he have some stories to tell his unborn daughter. So will everyone else.
Everyone has their favorite Derek Jeter highlights. And everyone's are different, although most of them involve that beautiful inside-out swing. There's the dive into the stands against Boston; the "Mr. November" home run in the 2001 World Series; the home run for his 3,000th hit; his speech at the end of the final game at the Old Stadium; his Opening Day home run in Cleveland his rookie year; passing Lou Gehrig on the all-time Yankee Stadium hits list just days before the Old Stadium closed its doors; the flip against Oakland in the playoffs; the Jeffrey Maier home run; the leadoff double and minutes-long standing ovation at his final All-Star Game; his walk-off Yankee Stadium farewell. The list goes on and on.
Derek Jeter didn't just inspire a generation of baseball fans. He inspired a generation of baseball players. How many current Major Leaguers list Derek Jeter as their favorite player or wear No. 2 because of him? It's the rare player that can generate such respect from those he's playing against. Derek Jeter was one of those players. At his final All-Star Game, Mike Trout was in awe just to be around him. Mike Trout, a superstar in his own right (and the new face of baseball), was in awe of Derek Jeter.
The rest of the Core Four have all had their days. Now Derek gets his due. The question of whether or not he'll be the first unanimous Hall of Fame inductee when he becomes eligible in 2020 is really kind of irrelevant. Because we all know he'll be giving a speech in Cooperstown that summer.
His eventual Hall of Fame induction is for all baseball fans. But Sunday is for Yankees fans. It's a chance to say thank you to The Captain, the last man ever to wear a single-digit number for baseball's most iconic franchise. One last chance to show their appreciation for all he's meant to the franchise over the last 20 years.
It's actually kind of fitting that Saturday's game got rained out. Because how many games will the Yankees be playing on Sunday now? Oh, that's right. 2.
Bob Sheppard's iconic introduction is one of the many lasting memories that Derek Jeter provided during his career in Pinstripes. They have to play it during the number retirement ceremony, right? With number 2 set to take its rightful place on the wall in Monument Park, we've been reminiscing about The Captain all week. Jeter holds a special place in the heart of all Yankees fans. For many, he was the team during the late 90s dynasty. And he was baseball for most as his career neared its end.
There's a simple reason for that. Derek Jeter has always been, and always will be, a gentleman. It's tough to dislike a guy who does everything the right way. Derek Jeter knows and respects Yankees history, and he knows his place in it. His relationship with Yogi Berra and Phil Rizzuto was special, as is his relationship with "Mr. Torre." And, naturally, he's become a mentor to younger players like Aaron Judge.
Who's responsible for all of that? His parents. They've been there every step of the way, fixtures in the Yankee Stadium stands, keeping him grounded. It's always been about family for him. That's why he chose Mother's Day for the ceremony...as a tribute to his mom. Famously a bachelor throughout his career, he'll soon be a father himself. And, boy, will he have some stories to tell his unborn daughter. So will everyone else.
Everyone has their favorite Derek Jeter highlights. And everyone's are different, although most of them involve that beautiful inside-out swing. There's the dive into the stands against Boston; the "Mr. November" home run in the 2001 World Series; the home run for his 3,000th hit; his speech at the end of the final game at the Old Stadium; his Opening Day home run in Cleveland his rookie year; passing Lou Gehrig on the all-time Yankee Stadium hits list just days before the Old Stadium closed its doors; the flip against Oakland in the playoffs; the Jeffrey Maier home run; the leadoff double and minutes-long standing ovation at his final All-Star Game; his walk-off Yankee Stadium farewell. The list goes on and on.
The rest of the Core Four have all had their days. Now Derek gets his due. The question of whether or not he'll be the first unanimous Hall of Fame inductee when he becomes eligible in 2020 is really kind of irrelevant. Because we all know he'll be giving a speech in Cooperstown that summer.
His eventual Hall of Fame induction is for all baseball fans. But Sunday is for Yankees fans. It's a chance to say thank you to The Captain, the last man ever to wear a single-digit number for baseball's most iconic franchise. One last chance to show their appreciation for all he's meant to the franchise over the last 20 years.
It's actually kind of fitting that Saturday's game got rained out. Because how many games will the Yankees be playing on Sunday now? Oh, that's right. 2.
Friday, May 12, 2017
NHL Conference Finals
Congratulations to the Ducks on finally winning a Game 7! And at home no less! Congratulations to the NHL on avoiding that Senators-Oilers Final I'm sure you were dreading! Congratulations to the Predators on your first-ever Conference Final appearance! And congratulations to the Penguins on knocking out the President's Trophy winners yet again!
Notice I didn't congratulate the Senators on "winning" their series. That's because I still haven't figured out how they did. The Rangers were the better team in four (maybe even five) of those six games. They gave away two games at the end, but all credit to Ottawa for taking advantage. There probably aren't many people who expected to see the Senators four wins away from playing for the Cup, yet here they are. Beating Pittsburgh will be a daunting challenge, though.
I actually thought for a second that the Penguins might find a way to blow that 3-1 lead against the Capitals. Especially with how inspired Washington came out in Game 6. Then the Penguins played like the Penguins in Game 7, and the Capitals once again came up short of the Eastern Conference Final. And now Pittsburgh becomes the overwhelming favorite to become the first team to win consecutive Cups since the 1997-98 Red Wings.
That's not to say Pittsburgh is unbeatable, though. Sidney Crosby's health is always a question, especially after he missed Game 4 of the Washington series with another concussion. And their goaltending will continue to be suspect as long as Marc-Andre Fleury is around. But they're also the best offensive team around, and they're perfectly capable of outscoring you.
There's not really much I can point to as an area where Ottawa has the advantage over Pittsburgh. Yes, they have one of the best defensemen in the game in Erik Karlsson. But Karlsson played Duncan Keith-like minutes in the first two rounds, and he definitely looked injured towards the end of the Rangers series. Can he continue to play half the game and effectively take out the other team's best player? Problem with playing Pittsburgh is that even if he does that, the Penguins have too many offensive weapons. Karlsson can't stop them all.
Can Ottawa steal a game or two? Sure. After all, they got outplayed by the Rangers for a vast majority of the last series. But they managed to hang around before striking at the end, including those two overtime winners in Ottawa. So I won't say this will be a Penguins sweep. I just don't see a way the Senators beat them four times, though. Pittsburgh in six.
Out west, however, that's going to be a great series. Just like it was last year, when the Predators handed the Ducks one of their trademarked Game 7 home losses. And both of these teams are better than they were last season, as well as the two most impressive clubs so far in the playoffs.
Unlike the Pittsburgh-Ottawa series, I'd be very surprised if this one didn't go the distance. There just isn't that much separating the Ducks and Predators. It's why they were both popular Stanley Cup picks in the preseason. And, frankly, either one will give the Penguins a run for their money in the Final.
So which one will it be? Well, the Predators are by far the hottest team. They're firing on all cylinders right now, and Pekka Rinne is getting hot at just the right time. In fact, all of the Predators are. One of the keys to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, they always say, is just getting in. Nashville's certainly proving that. Because there's no way this is the eighth-best team in the Western Conference.
Anaheim might be the best team out West, though. The Ducks have been teetering on the brink for the last couple years, yet have always found a way to screw things up. Is this the year things will be different? Well, after that crazy comeback from 3-0 down with like five minutes left in Game 5 against Edmonton, you've gotta think it might be. This year's Ducks aren't doing the things that have cost them dearly in the past. They look like a team on a mission.
It really could go either way. I don't see much of a difference between these two teams at all. Anaheim's strength is its scoring ability, while Nashville relies on its outstanding defense and goaltending. The Predators have gotten out to a bunch of early leads this postseason, allowing them to dictate play. Anaheim has shown an incredible ability to come from behind, though. This series could easily go back-and-forth, which is where the Ducks' home ice advantage might come into play.
Except Game 7 in Anaheim is clearly not an issue for the Predators. They showed that last year. And I think Pekka Rinne's going to be the X-factor in this series. He'll steal at least one game for Nashville. He's the reason I give the Predators the edge. Nashville keeps its incredible season going and plays in its first Stanley Cup Final. Predators in seven.
Notice I didn't congratulate the Senators on "winning" their series. That's because I still haven't figured out how they did. The Rangers were the better team in four (maybe even five) of those six games. They gave away two games at the end, but all credit to Ottawa for taking advantage. There probably aren't many people who expected to see the Senators four wins away from playing for the Cup, yet here they are. Beating Pittsburgh will be a daunting challenge, though.
I actually thought for a second that the Penguins might find a way to blow that 3-1 lead against the Capitals. Especially with how inspired Washington came out in Game 6. Then the Penguins played like the Penguins in Game 7, and the Capitals once again came up short of the Eastern Conference Final. And now Pittsburgh becomes the overwhelming favorite to become the first team to win consecutive Cups since the 1997-98 Red Wings.
That's not to say Pittsburgh is unbeatable, though. Sidney Crosby's health is always a question, especially after he missed Game 4 of the Washington series with another concussion. And their goaltending will continue to be suspect as long as Marc-Andre Fleury is around. But they're also the best offensive team around, and they're perfectly capable of outscoring you.
There's not really much I can point to as an area where Ottawa has the advantage over Pittsburgh. Yes, they have one of the best defensemen in the game in Erik Karlsson. But Karlsson played Duncan Keith-like minutes in the first two rounds, and he definitely looked injured towards the end of the Rangers series. Can he continue to play half the game and effectively take out the other team's best player? Problem with playing Pittsburgh is that even if he does that, the Penguins have too many offensive weapons. Karlsson can't stop them all.
Can Ottawa steal a game or two? Sure. After all, they got outplayed by the Rangers for a vast majority of the last series. But they managed to hang around before striking at the end, including those two overtime winners in Ottawa. So I won't say this will be a Penguins sweep. I just don't see a way the Senators beat them four times, though. Pittsburgh in six.
Out west, however, that's going to be a great series. Just like it was last year, when the Predators handed the Ducks one of their trademarked Game 7 home losses. And both of these teams are better than they were last season, as well as the two most impressive clubs so far in the playoffs.
Unlike the Pittsburgh-Ottawa series, I'd be very surprised if this one didn't go the distance. There just isn't that much separating the Ducks and Predators. It's why they were both popular Stanley Cup picks in the preseason. And, frankly, either one will give the Penguins a run for their money in the Final.
So which one will it be? Well, the Predators are by far the hottest team. They're firing on all cylinders right now, and Pekka Rinne is getting hot at just the right time. In fact, all of the Predators are. One of the keys to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, they always say, is just getting in. Nashville's certainly proving that. Because there's no way this is the eighth-best team in the Western Conference.
Anaheim might be the best team out West, though. The Ducks have been teetering on the brink for the last couple years, yet have always found a way to screw things up. Is this the year things will be different? Well, after that crazy comeback from 3-0 down with like five minutes left in Game 5 against Edmonton, you've gotta think it might be. This year's Ducks aren't doing the things that have cost them dearly in the past. They look like a team on a mission.
It really could go either way. I don't see much of a difference between these two teams at all. Anaheim's strength is its scoring ability, while Nashville relies on its outstanding defense and goaltending. The Predators have gotten out to a bunch of early leads this postseason, allowing them to dictate play. Anaheim has shown an incredible ability to come from behind, though. This series could easily go back-and-forth, which is where the Ducks' home ice advantage might come into play.
Except Game 7 in Anaheim is clearly not an issue for the Predators. They showed that last year. And I think Pekka Rinne's going to be the X-factor in this series. He'll steal at least one game for Nashville. He's the reason I give the Predators the edge. Nashville keeps its incredible season going and plays in its first Stanley Cup Final. Predators in seven.
Tuesday, May 9, 2017
MLB Early Returns
We're just over a month into the baseball season, and it's safe to say some unexpected things have happened thus far. The Yankees weren't supposed to be this good yet, the Rockies weren't supposed to be this good period, and I don't know what's going on with the Giants. Meanwhile, we've got the Orioles and Red Sox more concerned with throwing at each other than actually trying to win games. And to think, the fun is just starting.
I'll start with the Yankees. It turns out Brian Cashman knows what he's doing after all. After they started 1-4, everyone was thinking "Here we go again." They've lost a total of five games since then. I was at that game against Baltimore where they rallied from 9-1 down to win 14-11 in 10. It was one of the craziest games I've ever been to live. The excitement was gone from Yankee Stadium for the last couple years. It's back now, though.
There's one guy who's mostly responsible for this. Aaron Judge's at-bats have become appointment television. Even when he doesn't hit a home run, he crushes the ball. This guy's got superstar written all over him. He's even usurped Gary Sanchez as "that guy" on the Yankees. They've been waiting for that next transcendent star to become the new Face of the Franchise. I think they've found him.
Can Major League Baseball just put Judge in the Home Run Derby now? Seriously, what are they waiting for? The All-Star Game is in Miami, so you know Giancarlo's going to be in it. And who doesn't want to see that Judge vs. Stanton matchup? In fact, throw Eric Thames in there, too. Milwaukee took a gamble that Thames' numbers in Korea would translate to the Majors, and boy were they right! He's the biggest reason why the Brewers are right in the thick of things in a crowded NL Central.
Speaking of the NL Central, the Cubs certainly aren't playing like the Cubs of last year. Which isn't completely unexpected. Call it World Series Hangover if you like. But there's also no reason for concern on the North Side. They're still the best team in the NL Central by a wide margin. They'll get it straightened out. And, for as "bad" as they've been, they're still just a game out of first.
In their place, Washington seems to have taken over as the best team in the National League. Everyone already knew that the Nationals were good. But this good? Bryce Harper is back to being Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman is hitting .420! Seriously!? He's the runaway NL MVP after a month. Of course, their real test will come in October, which has provided them with plenty of problems over the last few years. I'm not saying they should start planning for the playoffs now. But they've been awfully impressive so far.
Teams that have NOT been impressive so far include the Blue Jays and Giants. After two straight trips to the ALCS, Toronto is a shell of its former self. I think what we're seeing this year is the importance of Edwin Encarnacion on that team. Sure, they're missing the injured Josh Donaldson and Troy Tulowitzki, but Encarnacion won't be coming back. And his absence is surely being felt. We're also seeing why nobody else wanted Jose Bautista as a free agent.
San Francisco, meanwhile, saw things go from bad to worse with Madison Bumgarner's dirt bike accident. He won't be back until the All-Star Break at the earliest, and who knows what kind of shape he'll be in when he does? Of course, there may not even be a need to rush him back. Because this sure has the makings of a lost season for the Giants (it is an odd-year anyway).
Then there's the Mets. I don't know of any other way to describe the state of that team than to use an expression us New Yorkers commonly use. "They're the Mets." What that means is crazy/bad things just find a way to happen around them. And it's rarely just one.
Case in point, Noah Syndergaard. He scratches himself from a start because of discomfort, refuses an MRI, says he feels fine, then gets pulled from his next start in the second inning with an injury that the MRI could've seen. Now he's out for an extended period when he simply could've just gotten the MRI when the team wanted him to.
When Syndergaard missed that start, the Mets moved Matt Harvey up a day to take his place. Except Harvey had thrown a bullpen the day before and was in "no position to pitch," and he made sure everyone knew it after he got rocked. As if throwing the team under the bus wasn't enough, Harvey missed his most recent start because he was suspended by the team. Although, he's blaming it on a miscommunication and is filing a grievance against the Mets.
Needless to say, the honeymoon is over with Matt Harvey and the Mets. He's no longer the pitcher that took New York by storm in 2013. It really started to go downhill when he came back out for the ninth inning in Game 5 of the 2015 World Series, only to have the Royals tie the game before winning in extras. Most people were already predicting that Harvey would no longer be a Met when he became a free agent, and I think this latest saga sealed the deal in that regard.
Lastly, we've got Starling Marte. His situation is just sad. The Pirates basically forced Andrew McCutchen to move to center field so that they could build around Marte in center. Except he failed a PED test and received an 80-game suspension. And he won't just miss half the season, he's ineligible for the playoffs (should Pittsburgh even get there). Which puts McCutchen back in center and a guy who should be playing in the Minors in right.
That old baseball axiom is "You can't win the pennant in April, but you sure can lose it." It's true. We're only a month in. There's still five months to go. But for teams like the Yankees, Nationals and Astros, it was a good April. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays, Giants and Mets have some work to do. Fortunately for them, they've got five months to do it.
I'll start with the Yankees. It turns out Brian Cashman knows what he's doing after all. After they started 1-4, everyone was thinking "Here we go again." They've lost a total of five games since then. I was at that game against Baltimore where they rallied from 9-1 down to win 14-11 in 10. It was one of the craziest games I've ever been to live. The excitement was gone from Yankee Stadium for the last couple years. It's back now, though.
There's one guy who's mostly responsible for this. Aaron Judge's at-bats have become appointment television. Even when he doesn't hit a home run, he crushes the ball. This guy's got superstar written all over him. He's even usurped Gary Sanchez as "that guy" on the Yankees. They've been waiting for that next transcendent star to become the new Face of the Franchise. I think they've found him.
Can Major League Baseball just put Judge in the Home Run Derby now? Seriously, what are they waiting for? The All-Star Game is in Miami, so you know Giancarlo's going to be in it. And who doesn't want to see that Judge vs. Stanton matchup? In fact, throw Eric Thames in there, too. Milwaukee took a gamble that Thames' numbers in Korea would translate to the Majors, and boy were they right! He's the biggest reason why the Brewers are right in the thick of things in a crowded NL Central.
Speaking of the NL Central, the Cubs certainly aren't playing like the Cubs of last year. Which isn't completely unexpected. Call it World Series Hangover if you like. But there's also no reason for concern on the North Side. They're still the best team in the NL Central by a wide margin. They'll get it straightened out. And, for as "bad" as they've been, they're still just a game out of first.
In their place, Washington seems to have taken over as the best team in the National League. Everyone already knew that the Nationals were good. But this good? Bryce Harper is back to being Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman is hitting .420! Seriously!? He's the runaway NL MVP after a month. Of course, their real test will come in October, which has provided them with plenty of problems over the last few years. I'm not saying they should start planning for the playoffs now. But they've been awfully impressive so far.
Teams that have NOT been impressive so far include the Blue Jays and Giants. After two straight trips to the ALCS, Toronto is a shell of its former self. I think what we're seeing this year is the importance of Edwin Encarnacion on that team. Sure, they're missing the injured Josh Donaldson and Troy Tulowitzki, but Encarnacion won't be coming back. And his absence is surely being felt. We're also seeing why nobody else wanted Jose Bautista as a free agent.
San Francisco, meanwhile, saw things go from bad to worse with Madison Bumgarner's dirt bike accident. He won't be back until the All-Star Break at the earliest, and who knows what kind of shape he'll be in when he does? Of course, there may not even be a need to rush him back. Because this sure has the makings of a lost season for the Giants (it is an odd-year anyway).
Then there's the Mets. I don't know of any other way to describe the state of that team than to use an expression us New Yorkers commonly use. "They're the Mets." What that means is crazy/bad things just find a way to happen around them. And it's rarely just one.
Case in point, Noah Syndergaard. He scratches himself from a start because of discomfort, refuses an MRI, says he feels fine, then gets pulled from his next start in the second inning with an injury that the MRI could've seen. Now he's out for an extended period when he simply could've just gotten the MRI when the team wanted him to.
When Syndergaard missed that start, the Mets moved Matt Harvey up a day to take his place. Except Harvey had thrown a bullpen the day before and was in "no position to pitch," and he made sure everyone knew it after he got rocked. As if throwing the team under the bus wasn't enough, Harvey missed his most recent start because he was suspended by the team. Although, he's blaming it on a miscommunication and is filing a grievance against the Mets.
Needless to say, the honeymoon is over with Matt Harvey and the Mets. He's no longer the pitcher that took New York by storm in 2013. It really started to go downhill when he came back out for the ninth inning in Game 5 of the 2015 World Series, only to have the Royals tie the game before winning in extras. Most people were already predicting that Harvey would no longer be a Met when he became a free agent, and I think this latest saga sealed the deal in that regard.
Lastly, we've got Starling Marte. His situation is just sad. The Pirates basically forced Andrew McCutchen to move to center field so that they could build around Marte in center. Except he failed a PED test and received an 80-game suspension. And he won't just miss half the season, he's ineligible for the playoffs (should Pittsburgh even get there). Which puts McCutchen back in center and a guy who should be playing in the Minors in right.
That old baseball axiom is "You can't win the pennant in April, but you sure can lose it." It's true. We're only a month in. There's still five months to go. But for teams like the Yankees, Nationals and Astros, it was a good April. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays, Giants and Mets have some work to do. Fortunately for them, they've got five months to do it.
Friday, May 5, 2017
Bob Meusel: Hall of Famer
Did you know that Adrian Beltre is tied for the all-time lead in cycles? It's true. He's done it three times. And he's the only one that's done it in the Expansion Era. In fact, the other three all did it before World War II--John Reilly in the 1800s, Babe Herman in the 1930s, and Bob Meusel.
Where am I going with all of this? Well, seeing that article got me thinking about something that I've wondered in the past. And that's why isn't Bob Meusel in the Hall of Fame? He was on the Veterans Committee ballot in 1982, but wasn't elected. I'm not sure if he's been considered since, but he should be. Because he has better numbers and more championships than some other players from the 1920s that already have plaques in Cooperstown.
Meusel played 11 years from 1920-30, all but the last of which was with the Yankees. He was a member of the Yankees' first six pennant-winning teams, as well as their first three World Championship teams. On that historic "Murderer's Row" 1927 squad, Meusel batted fifth--behind two guys you might've heard of. Their names were Ruth and Gehrig. He also hit ahead of another Hall of Famer, Tony Lazzeri.
Was Meusel remotely near the caliber of his celebrated teammates? Of course not. I'm not trying to argue that he was. But the fact that he was, at best, the fourth-best player on the 1927 Yankees shouldn't disqualify him, either. That was one of the greatest teams in history for a reason. And you're not going to convince me that Bob Meusel wasn't a key part of the Yankees' success as they became The Yankees.
I'm not just waxing poetic about him because he was a member of the 1927 Yankees, either. Bob Meusel certainly has the numbers that should warrant serious Hall of Fame consideration. He was a career .309 hitter who also hit 368 career doubles, 95 triples and 156 home runs to go along with 1,071 RBIs. Meusel also had 143 career stolen bases. This was right as baseball transitioned from the Dead Ball Era to the Live Ball Era. They played 154-game season then, but Baseball-Reference only does 162-game averages, and they've got Meusel averaging 42 doubles, 11 triples, 18 homers and 123 RBIs a year according to their projections. And, while you know I place no value in this "stat," his career WAR was 27.6.
He had eight RBIs in the 1923 World Series, including five in Game 5, as the Yankees won their first title. Then in 1925, Meusel led the American League in both home runs (33) and RBIs (138) (yet was only 18th in AL MVP voting?). That was one of just two seasons in the 1920s where Babe Ruth didn't win at least a share of the AL home run title. At the time of his retirement, he held most Yankee records for right-handed hitters, only to have them later broken by Lazzeri and the next guy to wear No. 5 in the Bronx--Joe DiMaggio.
Then there was the defense. Meusel was long considered one of the best outfielders of his day. He had 28 outfield assists in 1921 alone (and 24 in 1922) and recorded 157 in his career. Meusel played primarily left field, although he occasionally swapped with Ruth and played right. In his obituary, the New York Times called Meusel's throwing arm "deadly accurate," and Casey Stengel said that he had never seen a better thrower.
There are plenty of negatives associated with Meusel, too. And if I had to guess, I'd imagine these are the primary reasons why he hasn't come close to Hall of Fame election in the past. He struck out a lot (his 24 World Series strikeouts were a record until broken by Gil McDougald). Meusel was also criticized for being lazy, which some said prevented him from being truly great. Evidently, he wasn't well liked by his teammates and the media either.
Since it's the media that votes for the Hall of Fame, I'd imagine that might be the primary reason why Meusel isn't a Hall of Famer. I'd love to see that rectified, though. Because I think Bob Meusel has been overlooked long enough. He played almost 100 years ago and died 40 years ago. I think it's safe to say he's long overdue.
They changed the structure of the Veterans Committee a few years ago, meaning players from earlier eras will be reviewed much less frequently. As a result, Bob Meusel can't be considered until the "Early Baseball" committee meets in 2020. When they vote, I hope they give him a serious look. Because Jack Morris isn't the only person I think belongs in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Bob Meusel belongs there, too.
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
No World Record Reset
The track & field doping saga took another turn today. IAAF President Seb Coe has put forth a radical proposal, backed by European Athletics, that would basically reset all of the sport's world records. They're going to present this to the IAAF Council at the World Championships in August with the hopes that it'll be adopted. My hope is that it isn't. Because this "solution" isn't the answer.
This whole conversation is a direct result of the mess that the sport is currently embroiled in. It's why no Russian has been allowed to compete internationally in more than a year and why no one knows who "won" Olympic medals from London or Beijing anymore. The European powers that be (who are, by far, the most outspoken on the doping issue) also feel that the world records set during this period are tainted, which is why they essentially want to start from scratch.
Under this proposal, a world record would have to fit three criteria in order to be recognized. It must take place in an approved international competition, the athlete must participate in a certain number of doping tests in the months leading up to the event, and their doping sample is stored and available for retesting for 10 years. They also suggested that if the record-setting athlete is ever implicated in doping, their record is taken away, even if the violation has no bearing on the record (for example, a 2017 positive test would still wipe out a record-setting performance from 2014).
It's definitely radical. But it's an overcorrection, and you know it'll face plenty of legal challenges if it goes through. Fortunately, Europe needs the rest of the world to agree in order to get it passed, and I'm not sure that'll happen. Either way, it shouldn't happen. Because this proposal is fraught with potential problems.
For starters, the IAAF only began saving blood samples in 2005. That would automatically reset any world record set prior to 12 years ago, which is completely preposterous. Especially since some of those records are among the most iconic in the sport. And despite the fact that we can't prove that those record-setters weren't clean.
That logic escapes me. Even those who've done nothing wrong would be lumped in with Marion Jones and Ben Johnson. Yes, there are some questionable records out there (the Chinese women's distance records, the women's 800 record), but there are also plenty of world record-holders who don't deserve to have their achievements taken away (for really no good reason). And some of these are among the most iconic performances in the history of sports.
And I'd bet even if you reset the world records, those will still be the iconic marks people chase. High jumping eight feet, just like Javier Sotomayor did in 1991. Going past 60 feet in the triple jump, which only Jonathan Edwards has done. FloJo's untouchable 10.49. Trying to come anywhere near Usain Bolt's greatness (which, presumably, would stay on the books since they were set after 2005).
Then there's the single greatest track & field competition of all time. The men's long jump at the 1991 World Championships, where Mike Powell and Carl Lewis both surpassed Bob Beamon's unthinkable mark from the 1968 Olympics. Beamon's mark stood for 23 years. Powell's is on it's 26th. No one has come close since. In fact, those remain the three longest jumps in history.
To be clear, all of the existing world records wouldn't be wiped out. They would still be listed as "all-time bests," but the best performance after a certain designated point would become the record. When that point is remains unclear. Either way, it's stupid. In fact, I'd think athletes would have even more motivation to wipe out a record they view as tainted instead of just being given one.
Jarrion Lawson had the world-leading mark in the men's long jump in 2016. He jumped 8.58 meters. That's more than 30 centimeters less than Beamon, and nearly 40 less than Powell! Yet you want to act like that's all of a sudden the world record?! That's just insulting. You're acting like two of the single greatest efforts in track & field history never happened. Just because you don't think the drug testing in 1968 or 1991 was good enough?
They need to stop trying to rewrite history. This is like when Commissioner Ford Frick decided in the middle of the 1961 season that Roger Maris could only break Babe Ruth's record if he did it the same number of games. So Maris' 61 had an asterisk next to it for how many years before everyone realized it was ridiculous and Bart Giamatti removed it? And, despite the protestations of many a sportswriter who thinks they should, they haven't made any indication that the single-season and career home run records don't belong to Barry Bonds.
My solution is to leave it alone. Times change. Drug testing has become more sophisticated as technology has improved. Everyone knows that. And that's not a reason to penalize the sports all-time greats. Why? Because they born at the wrong time. How is that their fault?
If you want to adopt this criteria moving forward, be my guest. That actually sounds pretty reasonable. But you can't touch the existing record book. World records are a part of the sport's history. You can't pretend that history never happened just because it's more convenient for you.
This whole conversation is a direct result of the mess that the sport is currently embroiled in. It's why no Russian has been allowed to compete internationally in more than a year and why no one knows who "won" Olympic medals from London or Beijing anymore. The European powers that be (who are, by far, the most outspoken on the doping issue) also feel that the world records set during this period are tainted, which is why they essentially want to start from scratch.
Under this proposal, a world record would have to fit three criteria in order to be recognized. It must take place in an approved international competition, the athlete must participate in a certain number of doping tests in the months leading up to the event, and their doping sample is stored and available for retesting for 10 years. They also suggested that if the record-setting athlete is ever implicated in doping, their record is taken away, even if the violation has no bearing on the record (for example, a 2017 positive test would still wipe out a record-setting performance from 2014).
It's definitely radical. But it's an overcorrection, and you know it'll face plenty of legal challenges if it goes through. Fortunately, Europe needs the rest of the world to agree in order to get it passed, and I'm not sure that'll happen. Either way, it shouldn't happen. Because this proposal is fraught with potential problems.
For starters, the IAAF only began saving blood samples in 2005. That would automatically reset any world record set prior to 12 years ago, which is completely preposterous. Especially since some of those records are among the most iconic in the sport. And despite the fact that we can't prove that those record-setters weren't clean.
That logic escapes me. Even those who've done nothing wrong would be lumped in with Marion Jones and Ben Johnson. Yes, there are some questionable records out there (the Chinese women's distance records, the women's 800 record), but there are also plenty of world record-holders who don't deserve to have their achievements taken away (for really no good reason). And some of these are among the most iconic performances in the history of sports.
And I'd bet even if you reset the world records, those will still be the iconic marks people chase. High jumping eight feet, just like Javier Sotomayor did in 1991. Going past 60 feet in the triple jump, which only Jonathan Edwards has done. FloJo's untouchable 10.49. Trying to come anywhere near Usain Bolt's greatness (which, presumably, would stay on the books since they were set after 2005).
Then there's the single greatest track & field competition of all time. The men's long jump at the 1991 World Championships, where Mike Powell and Carl Lewis both surpassed Bob Beamon's unthinkable mark from the 1968 Olympics. Beamon's mark stood for 23 years. Powell's is on it's 26th. No one has come close since. In fact, those remain the three longest jumps in history.
To be clear, all of the existing world records wouldn't be wiped out. They would still be listed as "all-time bests," but the best performance after a certain designated point would become the record. When that point is remains unclear. Either way, it's stupid. In fact, I'd think athletes would have even more motivation to wipe out a record they view as tainted instead of just being given one.
Jarrion Lawson had the world-leading mark in the men's long jump in 2016. He jumped 8.58 meters. That's more than 30 centimeters less than Beamon, and nearly 40 less than Powell! Yet you want to act like that's all of a sudden the world record?! That's just insulting. You're acting like two of the single greatest efforts in track & field history never happened. Just because you don't think the drug testing in 1968 or 1991 was good enough?
They need to stop trying to rewrite history. This is like when Commissioner Ford Frick decided in the middle of the 1961 season that Roger Maris could only break Babe Ruth's record if he did it the same number of games. So Maris' 61 had an asterisk next to it for how many years before everyone realized it was ridiculous and Bart Giamatti removed it? And, despite the protestations of many a sportswriter who thinks they should, they haven't made any indication that the single-season and career home run records don't belong to Barry Bonds.
My solution is to leave it alone. Times change. Drug testing has become more sophisticated as technology has improved. Everyone knows that. And that's not a reason to penalize the sports all-time greats. Why? Because they born at the wrong time. How is that their fault?
If you want to adopt this criteria moving forward, be my guest. That actually sounds pretty reasonable. But you can't touch the existing record book. World records are a part of the sport's history. You can't pretend that history never happened just because it's more convenient for you.
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